.
Acne
treatments work by reducing oil production, speeding up skin cell
turnover, fighting bacterial infection
or doing all three. With most
prescription acne
treatments, you may not see results for four to eight weeks,
and your skin may get worse before it gets better. Oral prescription
medications for acne should not be used during pregnancy, especially during the
first trimester. Your doctor or dermatologist may recommend one or more of the
following treatments for acne: Topical treatments. Acne
lotions may dry up the oil, kill bacteria and promote sloughing of dead skin
cells. Over-the-counter lotions are generally mild and contain benzoyl
peroxide, sulfur, resorcinol, salicylic acid or lactic acid as their active
ingredient. These products can be helpful for very mild acne. If your acne
doesn''t respond to these treatments, you may want to see a doctor or
dermatologist to get a stronger prescription lotion. Tretinoin and adapalene
are examples of topical prescription products derived from vitamin A. They work
by promoting cell turnover and preventing plugging of the hair follicle. A
number of topical antibiotics also are available. They work by killing excess
skin bacteria. Often, a combination of such products is required to achieve
optimal results. Antibiotics. For moderate to severe acne,
prescription oral antibiotics may be needed to reduce bacteria and fight
inflammation. You may need to take these antibiotics for months, and you may
need to use them in combination with topical products.Isotretinoin.
For deep cysts, antibiotics may not be enough. Isotretinoin is a powerful medication available for
scarring cystic acne or acne that doesn''t respond to other treatments. This
medicine is reserved for the most severe forms of acne. It''s very effective,
but people who take it need close monitoring by a dermatologist because of the
possibility of severe side effects. Isotretinoin is associated with severe
birth defects, so it can''t be taken by pregnant women or women who may become
pregnant during the course of treatment or within several weeks of concluding
treatment. In fact, the drug carries such serious potential side effects that
women of reproductive age must participate in an FDA-approved monitoring
program to receive a prescription for the drug. In addition, isotretinoin may
increase the levels of triglycerides and cholesterol in the blood and may
increase liver enzyme levels. For most people, however, these levels return to
normal when the medication is stopped. Oral contraceptives.
Oral contraceptives, including a combination of norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol
, have been shown to improve acne in women. However, oral contraceptives may
cause other side effects that you''ll want to discuss with your doctor. Cosmetic
surgery. Doctors may be able to use cosmetic surgery to diminish scars
left by acne. Procedures include peeling away damaged skin with chemicals or by
freezing it, dermabrasion, intense light therapy and laser resurfacing. Peeling
procedures eliminate superficial scars. Dermabrasion, which is usually reserved
for more severe scarring, involves removing the top layers of skin with a
rapidly rotating wire brush. Laser resurfacing involves using short pulses of
intense light to remove the outer layer of your skin. If your skin tends to
form scar tissue, these procedures can make your complexion worse.